PCI DSS Penetration Testing Services For Sensitive Financial Data
Penetration testing that validates PCI DSS 4.0 controls and satisfies auditors, banks, and payment partners.
Why PCI DSS Matters To Startups & SMBs
PCI DSS 4.0 is the global security standard ensuring merchants and service providers protect cardholder data across networks, applications, and payment environments
Enterprise Requirement
PCI DSS compliance is mandatory for payment ecosystem participation
- Banks and card brands require validation
- Vendors without certification lose business opportunities
High Stakes
Non-compliance triggers penalties and restrictions
- Fines reach $50k–$100k monthly
- Risks include fees, suspended processing rights
Breach Costs
Payment data breaches cause severe losses
- Average breach costs $4.88M (IBM 2024)
- Forensic audits and lawsuits increase impact
Revenue & Trust
Compliance builds financial credibility and confidence
- Banks prefer verified, certified payment vendors
- Non-compliance damages reputation and growth
Where Penetration Testing Fits with PCI DSS Compliance
PCI DSS requires technical validation of controls. Penetration testing provides the most credible evidence that networks, applications, and payment systems truly safeguard cardholder data
Requirement Alignment
Pentests align with PCI DSS 4.0 mandates
- Validate compliance with requirements 11.4 and 11.5
- Cover applications and network layers thoroughly
Beyond Scans
Vulnerability scans miss what pentests fully validate
- Prove if vulnerabilities can be exploited
- Confirm protection of cardholder data environments
Prevent Costly Breaches
Pentests expose risks before attackers exploit them
- Cardholder data breaches trigger fines and lawsuits
- Lost trust damages brand reputation long-term
Audit Confidence
Reports deliver reproducible, technical PCI evidence
- Reduce disputes with certification auditors
- Ensure smoother, faster approvals
Business Enablement
Pentest results accelerate vendor financial partnerships
- Build confidence with banks and card issuers
- Strengthen sales cycles with enterprise customers
PCI DSS In Numbers
$50k-$100k
per month for serious or prolonged violations
27%
of breaches exploited web application attacks, many targeting payment portals
326 days
Average time to identify and contain breaches in financial services
How Software Secured Helps
Software Secured provides penetration testing aligned with PCI DSS 4.0, generating reproducible, audit-ready evidence that speeds compliance and protects payment systems.
Payment-Centric Testing
Remediation Support
Executive Risk Summary
Internal Network Pentesting
Continuous Summaries
Real Results for Startups & SMBs
“The Software Secured team was very knowledgeable in their domain. Their test plan was significantly more thorough than any automated tooling. I feel much more confident in our security efforts as we continue to grow now that we have undergone this pentest."
high growth startups, scaleups and SMB trust Software Secured
"Their team delivered on time and was quick to respond to any questions."
Relied on by fintech leaders to validate security posture and earn trust from financial services institutions
Recommended Services
Combine these services to protect sensitive data, secure cardholder data environments (CDE) and close more deals.
Web App Pentesting
Web pentests find business logic flaws, auth bypasses, and data leaks
Mobile App Pentesting
Mobile pentests reveal insecure storage, weak crypto, and interaction communication
Internal Network Pentesting
Internal network tests find exposed services, lateral paths, and privilege escalation
Our Penetration Testing Process
We make it easy to start. Our team handles the heavy lifting so you can focus on keeping your attack surface protected without the headaches.
Consultation Meeting. Our consultants span five time zones. Meetings booked within 3 days.
Customized Quote. Pricing tailored to product scope and compliance needs. Quotes delivered within 48 hours.
Pentest Scheduling. Testing aligned to your release calendar. Scheduling within 3-6 weeks - sometimes sooner.
Onboarding. Know what to expect thanks to Portal and automated Slack notifications. Onboarding within 24-48 hours.
Pentest Execution. Seamless kickoff, and minimal disruption during active testing. Report within 48-72 hours of pentest completion.
Support & Retesting. Request retesting within 6 months of report delivery. Auto-scheduled within 2 weeks.
“I was impressed at how thorough the test plan was, and how "deep" some of the issues were that their testing uncovered. Also, the onboarding process was simple and painless: they were able to articulate exactly what they needed from us, and showed a clear understanding of the product they would be testing during our initial demo”
Security Made Easy Get Started Now
Frequently Asked Questions
Is penetration testing required for PCI DSS 4.0 compliance?
Yes. PCI DSS 4.0 explicitly requires penetration testing under requirements 11.4 and 11.5. Pentests validate that vulnerabilities are exploitable and ensure cardholder data environments are properly secured.
What scope of pentesting is required for PCI DSS compliance?
The level of testing is depending on the transaction level processed, but in general PCI DSS requires penetration testing of both internal and external networks, plus web applications, covering critical systems and cardholder data environments, to validate segmentation controls and ensure vulnerabilities are identified and remediated.
How often should penetration testing be performed for PCI DSS?
At least annually, and after any significant infrastructure or application changes. Frequent pentesting ensures PCI DSS requirements remain met and reduces risks of non-compliance fines or breaches.
What are the risks of PCI non-compliance without pentesting evidence?
Organizations face monthly fines between $5,000 and $100,000, potential suspension of card processing privileges, reputational damage, and loss of contracts with banks, card brands, and enterprise customers.
How does pentesting reduce breach costs under PCI DSS?
Pentests identify and validate weaknesses in payment systems before attackers exploit them, preventing cardholder data exposure, reducing forensic audit costs, and mitigating financial losses averaging $4.88M per breach.
.avif)
.avif)